The Editor to his Readers.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 12, 1 September 1900, Page 894

The Editor to his Readers.

JT^HIS number concludes the first year of -^ the publication of Tee New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, CORDIAL THANKS an d the Editor deems it T™S! a fitting opportunity to tender his most cordial thanks to the many kind friends who have givenhim their hearty co-operation in gaining for The Magazine the position it has already attained throughout New Zealand. He does not refer only to those who have assisted so materially by their contributions, but also to the numbers of subscribers, who with the commendable desire to see a typical New Zealand Magazine established, are doing their best to introduce it amongst their friends both at Home and abroad. That the difficulties in starting such a venture as a good New Zealand Magazine were many, goes without NO EASY . J ', b p., £ WORK sa y m S- The- failures of similar attempts and the gloomy predictions of premature decease, which were showered on the Editor's devoted head, proved this conclusively. But the hundreds of congratulatory letters received from well-known men and women of literary tastes in all parts of the colony assisted him in bearing these woeful predictions with wonderful equanimity. Not the least gratifying to the Editor have been letters from other parts of the world, expressing in high FROM OTHER . ' F ■,- - LANDS terms the appreciation m which his efforts to bring out a magazine redolent of bush, tussock, and fern are received by New Zealanders who have journeyed into far-away lands. In this respect it is pleasing to note that interesting contributions have been received from some of these wanderers, the result of friends in New Zealand forwarding them copies.

While thanking Tltk Magazine's manyfriends for their encouragement the Editor desires to convey his A HEARTY grateful recognition of WELCOME the heapty . we l come it PROM THE , J , . PRESS een accor ded by the daily and weekly Press from one end of the colony to the other. Their enthusiastic and highly commendatory notices and reviews, so freely tendered, have done much to break down the prejudice against colonial magazines which the failure of The New Zealand Illustrated Magazine's predecessors had engendered. Haying duly acknowledged the great assistance and kind encouragement awarded him, the Editor has much C °STAY TO Pleasure in being able to announce that the New Zealand Magazine has undoubtedly " come to stay." It has passed through its year of trial, and unflinchingly stood the strongest of all tests, that of public opinion. Every effort will be made in the future to make the Magazine still more worthy of the land which gave it FUTURE. bil>th " Arran g ementsnave been made for a serial story from the pen of " Alien," a wellknown New Zealand writer, now in London, and also for a Monthly London Letter by the same charming authoress. It was not considered advisable to introduce a serial until the Magazine was firmly established. Several other new features are also under consideration, which cannot fail to add to the popularity of the periodical. The success already attained has justified the proprietors in cabling to the Old Country for Fine Art Printing Machines in order to cope with the fast-increasing circulation,

and produce work which will compare favourably with the highest-class English and American Periodicals, which will he installed on arrival. The Editor often receives letters asking what contributions are most acceptable. Thoughtful articles on "WELCOME the topics of the day CONTRIBUTIONS, are always acceptable. Articles dealing with the early days of any portion of the colony,

specially when accompanied by photographs of old identities who have made their mark in their particular district, and also good descriptive articles of some of our grandest scenery with illustrations invariably find favour in the Editor's eyo. Short, smartly-written stories are always in request, especially thoso which show the bright and humorous, as well as the pathetic side of life. Colonial writers, as a rule, harp 100 much on the latter to the exclusion of the former.

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